Lysichiton americanus Hultén & H.St.John

Roots white, contractile. Rhizomes to 30 cm or more, 2.5--5 cm diam. Leaves large; petiole stout, 5--40 cm; blade to 135 ´ 70 cm, base cuneate to subtruncate, apex obtuse to acute; midvein thick, grading into petiole. Inflorescences erect, malodorous, distinctive indoloid odor remaining even in old herbarium specimens; spathe wilting shortly after anthesis, basal portion 8--40 cm; blade basally contracted into long sheath enclosing stipe, 8--25 cm, stipe elongating in fruit; spadix stipitate, 4--12(--14) cm, initially shorter than spathe, eventually long-exserted because of elongation of stipe. Flowers yellowish green; tepals 4; stamens 4, dehiscing longitudinally; ovaries (1--)2-locular; ovules 1--2. Infructescences oblong-ovate, 4--15 × 1.5--4 cm. Seeds gray-brown to red-brown, (3--)5--11 mm. 2n = 28.

It is a temperate plant. It grows by the waterside. It tolerates full sun or part shade. It requires permanently damp soil. It suits hardiness zones 6-10. Hobart Botanical Gardens.

The leaf stalks and the flower stalks are roasted and eaten. The leaves have been dried and powdered and used as a thickening agent. Only young leaves should be used. The rhizome is also eaten. They are washed then boiled or steamed. Caution: It contains calcium oxalate crystals. They are only eaten in small amounts.

Plants are grown from seed. They can also be grown from offsets.